The horticulture department is planning a foodcourt at Nandi Hills. The proposed location is part of the habitat of Nilgiri Wood Pigeon. The plan is likely to have impact on this

I do feel that Government can use the present buildings at Nandi Hills, some of which lie unused and abandoned. I request each of you to email the concerned people and voice your concern.

I received an email from Subbu, an avid bird-watcher of Bangalore.

This should come as a shocker to all those who love watching birds at Nandi Hills. The proposed food court on top of Nandi Hills (read the story below) would be right in the middle of Nilgiri Wood Pigeon Habitat.

If you are concerned in preserving this NWP habitat, please write to: Dr. S. Aswath, The Joint Director of Horticulture, LaLBagh, Bangalore 560004. E-mail: jdhpgf [at] gmail [dot] com, to relocate the food court in the picnic area or use the existing hotel buildings. Also, do not forget to mark a copy to Shri.S.G. Hegde, IAS, Secretary to Government, Horticulture Department , Government of Karnataka, IV Floor, III Stage, M.S Building, Dr. Ambedkar Veedhi, Bangalore-560 001; E-mail:
secyhorti-ah [at] karnataka.gov.in - voicing your concern about the proposed construction work.
Also, the proposed Band Stand with its loud Public Address System (loud speakers) would be new source of disturbance to birds in addition to ever-present howling of visitors.

Please join to the mailing bngcore@yahoogroups.com if you are interested in following discussions on this topic.

Food court at Nandi Hills

Source: The Hindu.

To make Nandi Hills more tourist-friendly, the Department of Horticulture will set up a food court at a cost of Rs. 80 lakh at the hill station..The proposed food court would come up on the picturesque zigzag lawn next to the old school building. …Once the food court starts functioning, the existing eateries and restaurants at the hill station, except Maurya Pine Top run by Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, would be closed.

To provide entertainment to tourists, a band stand would be constructed at Nandi Hills. During weekends and holidays, the Department of Horticulture, in association with the Department of Kannada and Culture, would organise cultural programmes at the band stand. The band stand would come up in the three-and-a-half acre grove, which has hundreds of eucalyptus trees and rain trees in addition to flowering plants...

Read the full article here.